NLTA Vice-President

Sunday, 14 August 2016

As the summer proceeds and we inch minute-by-minute toward a
new school year, I figured I would share with you some of my adventures (though
they be small steps) into the realm of meditation. It may be an opportune to
time to try a few ideas before getting back into the teaching tornado. Now I hope
that you are not rolling your eyes and saying “yeah, like I have time for that!”.
That was me, by the way, a few years back.

Now for anyway who knows me, I tend to have many projects on
the go both during and after the work day. I tried pulling back on some of
these projects as a means of reducing anxiety and fatigue but found myself
being ‘pulled back’ into them as they do offer value to me...’personality’
causes this situation for many of us and I find many of us teacher-types have this ‘get-‘er-done’
bug. So nothing has changed in terms of workload, but meditation did give me a
few more tools to add to my relaxation toolkit when I needed it the most.

This heavily-loaded word (‘meditation’) means a lot of things
to many different people. You have your global gurus, your hardcore crowd, your
recreational user (so to speak), and your nay-sayers that make up your
continuum. For me, it has evolved over
the last 3 or 4 years and, with many doubting moments and highlights along the
way, I have seen some great value for me personally. I have come across the
following points either through reading, scanning Twitter feeds, personal
realizations, or stumbling upon things that work for me.

These are simply presented as a means of stimulating potential
opportunities for you.

* I
have quickly realized that the philosophy behind meditation is quite rich and is
strongly-rooted in the history of many cultures and religious traditions. My
response? There must be something to
this...

* Meditation
can be what you need it to be, for YOU; bottom-line, it is being ‘present’ in
the moment. Found this extremely beneficial while travelling in Gros Morne
National Park this summer. Found myself in ‘the zone’ while standing with one
leg on the railing of a boat heading back from a tour of Western Brook Pond.
Think this will be my new ‘happy place’!

* I
read somewhere that each and every responsibility that we have is part of our
journey on this planet in spite of how menial or frustrating (e.g. meditation
and a few choice words helped me survive a mini-flooding of my kitchen while
installing my dishwasher). Accepting these tasks in this manner can certainly
help with frustration and lack of motivation.

* Breathing
– this is a key one. Controlled, deep breathing can do wonders at any part of
the day. Mid-day is great or especially after an anxious episode.

* One
technique that works for me is a body scan...visualize various parts of your body,
how they feel and make conscious efforts to stretch or relax those areas.

* Starting
your day with purposeful waking strategies such as stretching (while still
lying in bed), drinking a glass of water, avoiding your cell phone (that is
calling your name on your nightstand...), not allowing your mind to wander into those infamous danger zones, etc.

* Tried
the yoga thing, found it good, but didn’t stick with it...hope to pick it up
again soon.

* Hoping one day, to do an experiential retreat..hear there is one in Banff!

* Plan
on adding a waterfall to my office...hope it doesn’t cause an incessant need to
head to the washroom.

* Your
space, at any given time, can be a source of relaxation if you allow it to be
so.

* With
kids, need to find quiet time for this...always a challenge.So,
three things to sum this up:#1.
I have posted this blog at the risk of being teased by my hockey buddies and
those ‘nay-sayers’ I referenced above. May have to throw the old yoga mat in
the hockey bag.#2.
To you seasoned meditators, please bear with me in my amateur journey.

#3. Our classrooms and schools will pretty much
re-introduce us to the regular stressors that we left in June. Why not take
control of your response to them?

* Past President of School Counsellors Chapter of the Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)

* 'Virtues Project' Facilitator (2016)

Look at Me

A poem through the many eyes of my students (of varying capabilities)...

-------

'Look at me'

Look at me...

I know you see me.

I know you are thinking about me.

You were here just a few minutes ago.

But I need you now.

I need you more.

But I know he needs you too.

And she needs you more than me.

But I am still here...be sure not to forget me.

Mom keeps telling me you are doing your best.

But, I need you more.

Only if...

Only if...there were less of us.

And more of you to go around.

I know I would see you more.

You would be happier...

I would be happier.

Imagine what WE could achieve...

Only if...

Trent Langdon

Professionally speaking...

* First and foremost, I am a junior high school counsellor for 600+ adolescents. I am dedicated to advocacy and service for children, teens, their families, and communities.

* I work on behalf of my colleagues to build identity, protect professional roles, and to give teachers ‘a voice’. I am currently Vice-President of the Newfoundland & Labrador Teachers Association (NLTA); serving for the last four years on the NLTA's Provincial Executive.

* I am also a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapy Association (CCPA).

* And last but certainly not least, I am a proud contributor to the Epic Engage team (www.epicengage.com), wholeheartedly believing in the promotion of character-based leadership and virtues-based living (for everyone).

LGBTQ+ Ally

Hometown - Norris Arm South

Currently living in Mount Pearl; born and raised in beautiful Norris Arm South (Notre Dame Bay)

Retirement

Congrats to a longtime colleague and friend (Gerard Walsh) on his retirement after 36 years of service. VP Dean Ingram presenting Gerard with his NLTA Certificate.